The Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP) aims to preserve and expand access to local, organic, and sustainable food in Southeastern Massachusetts through research and education. SEMAP's goals are to be a resource for local agriculture, strengthen partnerships to support farmers, and preserve farmland. Current programs include twilight workshops, a local food guide, winter networking events, legislative farm tours, and an agricultural conference. SEMAP also partners with municipalities, state agencies, and nonprofits to support the 1,787 farms in the region and over $157 million agricultural market.

2. Massachusetts Sustainable
Campuses & Communities
Conference
Karen Schwalbe
Executive Director
Southeastern Massachusetts Agricultural Partnership (SEMAP)
http://semaponline.org
Organic, Local, Sustainable Food

3. Our Mission
To preserve and
expand access to
local food and
sustainable
farming in
Southeastern
Massachusetts
through research
and education.

4. Our Goals
● Be a responsive and trusted resource for local
agriculture
● Continue to work with existing partners and develop
new partnerships to bring more support and
guidance to bear for our local farmers and growers
● Preserve and expand access to local food and
sustainable farming in Southeastern Massachusetts

5. Why do we do it?
● Freshest and tastiest fruits
& vegetables
● Support family farmers
● Protects the environment
● Promote humane
treatment of animals
● Know where our food
comes from
● Connect with our
community

6. TWILIGHT EVENTS
LOCAL FOOD GUIDE
WINTER NETWORKING MEETING
LEGISLATIVE FARM TOURS
AG & FOOD CONFERENCE
OUTREACH
Current Programs

7. Twilight Events
● Workshops for farmers,
gardeners, and those with
a general interest
○ 2018 Events
÷ Strawberry Production
○ Spring Rain Farm
Taunton
÷ Pastured Poultry
○ Copicut Farm
÷ Raising Alpacas
○ Golden Touch Farm
÷ Jang Seeders
○ Freedom Food Farm

8. Local Food Guide
● Local growers
● Farmers’ Markets
● Specialty Producers and
Buyers
● Current issue available
online
● Print issue will come out
in the spring

9. Winter Networking Meeting
● Offers opportunities to connect with your fellow
growers, new potential buyers, chefs, and eaters
● Allows attendees a chance to become familiar with
SEMAP’s educational offerings and membership
benefits
● Guest speakers present on a range of agricultural
topics, helping to share best practices and
innovation with our local farmers

10. Outreach
● Online presence
(including social media &
SEMAP Spotlights
● Farmers Markets
● SEMAP Potlucks
● Legislative Tours

11. Freight Farm – UMass Dartmouth

12. Ag & Food Conference
● In partnership with the
Bristol County
Conservation District
● Day long conference
● Workshops for farmers,
gardeners, and the
general public
● Includes a locally sourced
lunch

13. Buy Local

14. Future Projects
● Developing a Southeastern New England FiberShed
● Resource guide
○ Create a small handheld book for farmers and growers with list
of service providers for seed, fertilizer, equipment repairs,
pesticides, etc
● Work with Farmers Markets to provide better access
to low-income communities

15. Partners

16. Local Agriculture
● 1787 Farms in Bristol, Plymouth, and Norfolk counties
Over 108,000 acres of farmland
Bristol County
717 Farms
Plymouth
825 Farms
Norfolk
245 Farms

17. Agricultural Market Value
● The region’s agricultural market value is
$157,222,000
○ 59% is Fruit, Tree Nuts, Berries
○ 19% comes from nurseries, greenhouses, floriculture, and sod
○ 12% from livestock, poultry, and
aquaculture
○ 9% from vegetables, including
potatoes and melons

18. Direct Sales
● Direct market sales (sales from farmers'
markets, farm stands, and CSAs)
increased by 64% to $8,705,000
between 2007 and 2012
● This only equates to about $5 per person
per year on direct purchases of local
foods
If each household in the region
spent just $10 a week on local
food, this would result in almost
$6.5 million per week spent on
local food in the region.

19. Municipal Interests in Agriculture
● Preserving an historic vista
● Agriculture to protect open space
● Improve health outcomes of the community
● Preserve an historic working farm

20. Municipal & Local Resources
• Local Agricultural
Commissions
• Local Land Trusts
• Community Preservation
Committees

21. State Resources
● Massachusetts Department of Agricultural
Resources
○ Agricultural Preservation Restriction program
○ Questions on Animal Welfare
○ Questions on Pesticides
● Department of Conservation & Recreation
○ Conservation Restrictions for Agriculture
● Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs
○ LAND Grant program may now be used for agricultural
as well as open space land purchases

22. Nonprofit Resources
• Regional Buy Local Organizations
• Massachusetts Association of Agricultural
Commissions
• Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation
• Northeast Organic Farmers Association

23. Thank You!